Review Detail

5.0 1

Making Friends With Billy Wong

Middle Grade Fiction 311

1950s Civil Rights- A Unique Story

July 20, 2016

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

N/A

Characters

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Writing Style

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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

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Azalea is looking forward to spending the summer hanging out with her best friend at home in Texas, but when her Grandmother Clark falls, she is sent to help her out in tiny Paris Junction. It's the 1950s, and she is surprised to see a Chinese boy hanging around town. It turns out that he is helping out his uncle, who runs the local grocery, in exchange for being able to go to school in town. In the smaller town where his parents run a grocery, he is forced to go to the substandard Negro school, where there are fewer opportunities. Azalea becomes friends with Billy, but is less thrilled with Willis, who steals gum, throws things at people, and is generally unpleasant. There are, of course, reasons for his behavior, but even once she discovers them, it's hard for Azalea to become friends with Willis. Her grandmother's health improves somewhat, and the two make an uneasy peace, although Azalea still longs for her mother and father. When Billy's uncle's store is attacked, Azalea is somewhat surprised but pleased that most of the town supports the family.

Good Points

This had a lot of good details of daily life in the 1950s, but more importantly, it discussed how people of Chinese descent (some of whom had probably been in the country far long than my German and English ancestors!) were treated. It's surprising that students often have no clue about things like this, so it's good to have books that highlight how much things have changed for the better. Sure, there is still progress to be made, but this fills a much needed gap.

This was very well-researched, and Scattergood uses her own Southern perspective to good advantage.

Readers who liked this author's Glory Be or Levine's The Lions of Little Rock, or who need a gentle reminder that it is possible to be friends with people who are not exactly like ourselves will find Making Friends with Billy Wong to be a compelling and informative read.